Pezeshkian and Indian President Murmu meet in New Delhi, call for expanded Iran-India ties

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Indian President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, where both leaders emphasized the need for strategic planning to expand relations between their countries. According to the Iranian presidency, the meeting focused on utilizing existing potential to deepen economic ties.

Pezeshkian said that over the past few months Iran had witnessed what he described as criminal acts by the United States and Israel against the country, and that the Iranian people had resisted with all their might and stood firm against such acts of bullying. He stressed that Iran has always championed regional peace and security, adding that Iran was attacked by the enemy and was not the aggressor but rather stood up against the enemy's aggression. Reiterating the need for strategic planning to enhance bilateral ties, he said, "We must utilize the potential between our two countries to expand economic relations."

Indian President Murmu, for her part, emphasized the importance of expanding ties with Iran, noting that in line with existing plans she has instructed the Prime Minister to pursue the deepening and expansion of relations with Iran. Addressing Pezeshkian, she said, "You have traveled to India after eight years, and this visit carries great significance for us." Murmu also described India's hosting of the BRICS summit as a valuable opportunity to deepen relations among nations, stating that holding joint meetings on the sidelines of the BRICS summit can lead to the further development of ties between countries.

The meeting took place during the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, which brings together member states for discussions on multilateral cooperation. The Iranian president's visit to India is his first in eight years, according to the Indian president's remarks. The two sides did not announce specific agreements or timelines for new economic initiatives.

According to Mehr News, the meeting underscored both countries' interest in using the BRICS platform and bilateral channels to advance economic cooperation, with Pezeshkian calling for strategic planning and Murmu pointing to instructions given to the Indian Prime Minister to deepen relations with Iran.